Ready for Ribfest?

Clitheroe based professional theatre company Ribcaged Productions have launched their programme for the new music and drama festival “Ribfest” to be held in Ribchester this summer.

The first programme’s emphasis will be on youth, locally based, though nationally and internationally known, singing talent and a broad range of music and drama styles to suit all tastes.

Highlights from the full week’s programme, which runs from Monday, July 18th, include The RATS kicking off the week on Monday evening with their take on Watership Down “The Rabbits of Sandleford Warren”. This is the usual promenade performance, so popular for many years, and will also be performed on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday – not to be missed.

Later on Monday at 8-30 pm, the regular Black Bull quiz takes its part in the festival mood with a local knowledge and music quiz.

Tuesday sees an early music history show at St Wilfrid’s School and then in the Village Hall at 7-30 pm, Ribcaged promise “A Night at the Theatre”, scenes and sketches from a wide range of British drama, all newly performed, but including some older and familiar faces, along with a wealth of young talent from Ribcaged’s Young Professional group.

Closing the entertainment on the busy Tuesday will be the Almost Blue Jazz Trio, also in the Village Hall.

Wednesday sees award winning Folk Duo Gilmore and Roberts in the Village Hall and a School Disco for the children of St Wilfrid’s, along with “Tales from the North Country” at Potters Barn.

Thursday 21st will have classical music duo Polaris performing in the Village Hall – a fascinating combination of saxophone and harp.

Friday is another busy day with a talk on, and musical extracts of, opera at St Peter and Paul’s Parish Centre.

Local sensation Ella Shaw will perform at the Village Hall from 7-30 pm. Ella has gone from strength to strength this last 12 months, with highlights including playing and singing her own music on Britain’s Got Talent.

The evening comes to a rousing finale back in the Parish Centre with “The Beloose Brothers” tribute act... Blues Brothers... Get It?!

Those who saw the first performances of “Stop the Train” will welcome back Gaz Jenkins, lead in The Train, and his partner Kieran Sims. Talking of “Stopping the Train”, the main Saturday night feature at the Village Hall will be Rick Guard with colleague Phil Rice, the writers of The Train.

Before that on Saturday, there will be trips up the St Wilfrid’s Church tower and a tea party at the Parish Centre with The Sparkle Sisters, and then everyone is invited to help the football club raise much needed funds for a new pavilion with afternoon “Rock on the Rec”.

Sunday will be a family fun day with music at the Parish Centre in the afternoon, more classical music with the Diverso String Quartet in the Village Hall and to round off a packed and varied week, there’s the wonderful Abba tribute group ”The Abbarettes” at the Sports and Social Club.

Tickets for all shows are available from The Ribchester Arms, The Whalley Wine Shop, Keith Flood (01254 878479) and Ribcaged in Clitheroe.

Ribcaged is very grateful for all sponsorship already provided and for those supporters who have already backed the theatre company by becoming “Friends”. You can help support too by sponsorship,“Friendship” and/or volunteering to help at the shows themselves. Contact them at www.ribfest.co.uk or info@ribcaged.co.uk